Thank you for entering the 2024 CNZ New Zealand Open Championships. Several relevant matters are detailed below as well as formats and timings of all events but If you have any queries please contact me at [email protected] or 027 292 5229. Play will be at the United Croquet Club at 10 Riccarton Avenue in North Hagley Park except for the Singles Plate which will be at the Cashmere Croquet Club, 3A Valley Road, Cashmere on the Thursday and Friday.
Doubles (Saturday 20th – Monday 22nd January) Play starts at 8.30am on Saturday so please arrive by 8.00am for Opening Remarks, etc. Sunday and Monday will start at 8.00am so arrive by 7.45am.
We have fourteen teams and will play a Flexible Swiss to establish the Knockout. with time limits of three hours plus Law 61. No game will start later than 7.00pm on Saturday or 11.30am on Sunday. The opening draw will be in accordance with Tournament Regulation 20.11 so the top ranked two pairs will play and so on to the bottom ranked two pairs. Placings require a minimum of five games and are based on percentage of wins, if tied then quality of opposition then who beat who then net points. The top four pairs qualify for the knockout and the remainder may enter the Plate..
Knockout play is best of three with time limits of 3.5/6.5/9 hours plus Law 61 Those eliminated in the semi-finals of the Knockout may play an untimed game to decide third place.
The Plate may have ten pairs and they will be seeded based on their Swiss results. Matches will be a single game Knockout with a three hour time limit plus Law 61. The bottom four will play the first round of the Knockout on Sunday with 7 v 10 and 8 v 9. The quarter final round will start on Monday with 1 v winner of 7v10; 2 v winner of 8v9; 3 v 6; 4 v 5. The semi-final and final will follow. Pairs eliminated from the Plate may play a consolation Swiss.
Singles (Tuesday 23rd – Saturday 27th January) Play starts at 8.00am on Tuesday so please arrive by 7.30am for Opening Remarks, etc.
We have twenty six players forming two blocks of seven and two of six players. We will endeavour to complete four rounds in the block of seven on day one, with games being pegged down for completion on day two if necessary, The block of 7 will start day two at 8am, the block of 6 will start at 10am. The top four from each block qualify for the knockout and the remainder may enter the Heenan Plate. In the block play games are expected to be double-banked with time limits of three hours plus Law 61.
The Player’s Choice draw for the 16 qualifiers will take place at United following the completion of block play on Wednesday and the processing of results to provide updated player rankings to support the draw. The Knockout matches will be the best of three with time limits of 3.5/6.5/9 hours plus Law 61.
Players eliminated in the first round of the Knockout may enter the Bronze Medal competition with two blocks of four playing three hour games plus Law 61. Placings will be determined by the number of wins, net points if tied and who beat who if still tied. The winner of each block will contest the best of three final with time limits of 3.5/6.5/9 hours plus Law 61. Those eliminated in the quarter finals will play either a block or a Knockout of three hour games plus Law 61. Placings will be determined by the number of wins, net points if tied and who beat who if still tied. Those eliminated in the semi-finals of the Knockout may play an untimed game to decide third place.
The Plate may have ten players. All play will be at the Cashmere Croquet Club, 3A Valley Road, Cashmere, starting at 8.30am on Thursday so please arrive by 8.15am. Two sets of five will be formed from each half of the original draw. The sets will then oppose each other in five rounds of games with time limits of three hours plus Law 61. Placings will be determined by the number of wins, net points if tied and who beat who if still tied. The top two from each block will play a Knockout with the top of one block playing the runner up of the other block in a single game with time limits of three hours plus Law 61. . On Saturday at United the two winners will play a best of three with time limits of 3.5/6.5/9 hours plus Law 61.
Players are reminded that in double banked games clocks may be stopped for any of the reasons outlined in Law 61.4, including double-banking delays where it is predicted that the delay may exceed 2 minutes.
All players are entitled to 5 minutes practice prior to their first game of the day. During this time, hoops may be run, but only with strokes that would send the ball no further than seven yards if the hoop was run cleanly. Players who have had byes in the first round of the day and are due to play someone who has played a game may have 15 minutes practice. Players who have a bye but have already played that day may have a 5 minute practice.
Pre-Tournament Practice The lawns will be available for practice on Friday 19th January 2024 from 12.00pm till 5.30pm. Preparation may still be proceeding and hoop shots should not be hit harder than would propel the ball more than seven yards past a hoop if cleanly hit.
Catering There will be a Clubhouse fee of $5 per playing day for all players to cover clubhouse facilities, morning and afternoon tea etc. Please pay this to the Manager or nominated person at each venue. Filled rolls may be ordered and paid for prior to play and will be available by 11.30am. Cost is $5 per roll.
Officials The Tournament Referee is John Christie. John will appoint other referees and qualified players as necessary.
The Appeals Committee members will be: John Christie plus any two of the following as or , Nelson Morrow, Stefan Horrer, Chris Shilling, Baubre Murray, Paddy Chapman
Assistant Manager (Cashmere): Rodger Lane

Parking Hagley Park is limited to three hours on weekdays and there is limited parking at the venue so busing or car sharing is advisable.

Doubles Draw for First Round of Swiss.
Fourteen teams will play a Flexible Swiss to establish the Knockout. with time limits of three hours plus Law 61. The opening draw is based on DG ranking with the top ranked two pairs playing then the next two and so on to the bottom ranked two pairs. Placings require a minimum of five games . The top four pairs qualify for the knockout.
Roger Murfitt + Joe Hogan v Toby Garrison + Jarrod Coutts
Chris Shilling + Harps Tahurangi v Callum Hyland + Peter Filbee
Logan McCorkindale + Luke Rive v John Christie + Nelson Morrow
Paddy Chapman + Levi Franks v Greg Bryant + Carolyn Fordyce
James Galpin + Paul Kaiser v John Versey + Peter Parkinson
Dennis Bulloch + Kathie Grant v Stefan Horrer + John Hearnshaw
Carey and Bonnie Johnstone v Geraldine Murphy + Steve Costigan